TAEKWONDO: Lopezes Make Olympic History in Des Moines

April 5, 2008 DES MOINES, Iowa -- Olympic history was made Saturday night at Des Moines' Veterans Memorial Audtorium as Mark and Diana Lopez (Sugar Land, Texas) qualified for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team, joining brother Steven to become the first three siblings on the U.S. Olympic Team since 1904. They will be coached in Beijing by their eldest brother, Jean Lopez. Charlotte Craig (Murietta, Calif.) rounds out the four-member Olympic squad. Mark Lopez won the men's Olympic featherweight division with a 3-2 victory over Chris Martinez (Sugar Land, Texas), Diana Lopez needed sudden death overtime to defeat 2004 Olympic silver medalist Nia Abdallah (Houston, Texas) to earn the female Olympic featherweight spot, and Craig beat Anees Hasnain (McKinney, Texas), 4-2, to qualify for the women's Olympic flyweight division. "It felt like a dream, surreal," said older brother Jean Lopez who will serve as the Olympic Team coach. "Everything is just perfect." Four years ago, at the 2004 Olympic Trials, it was Abdallah that defeated Diana Lopez in overtime to win the berth on the Olympic Team. This time around, the roles were switched. "I used to fight emotionally," said Diana Lopez. "I've learned to understand taekwondo more and I came in with more confidence this time around." ###